By M D P DISSANAYAKE

BUDDHIST MONKS HATED BY BRITISH LEADERS. WHY?

In the first part of the article on the Theravada Buddhist Kathikawatha, we have narrated the 227 vinaya pitaka discipline. MR Ranil Wickremasinghe’s desire to gradually deplete the value of practice of buddhism in Sri Lanka is no secret.  The desire of British leaders to deplete the value the practice of buddhism in Sri Lanka is also no secret.  British leaders had to evolve a mechanism to bring together a group of Sinhala Theravada Buddhist leaders, who appear on paper as representing saviours of buddhist culture.  They found this chemistry with Ranil, Maithree and Chandrika, who are bogus Sinhala Buddhists. British have been taught several lessons in Sri Lanka by none other than Buddhist Monks. It was always Buddhist monks who came forward to fight for the country. They were crushed and humiliated by British during anti colonial struggles launched by Buddhist Monks. 

During the ferocious liberation struggle way back in 1818 to 1848 period Dambulla Temple Chief Incumbent Giranegama Thero, Kudapola Thero and several buddhist leaders were arrested during the revolt. After arresting the Kudapola Thero, he was shot dead in yellow robes by British gunmen. Several hundreds of buddhist freedom fighters were arrested and executed. On the last day the Ceylon was lost to British, Ven. Variyapola Sumangala Maha Thero treated the Union Jack with contempt, tore it down and crushed it. British were aware the close relation between laity and monks were solid and monks provided the leadership for freedom fighters.

In Governor Maitland’s own words, “the influence of the priest is very great, even greater in many instances than that of the mudaliyars [local administrators] themselves.”  Many sinhalese had no financial strength and were not on top of higher strata in the colonial society. This weakness was capitalised by British by converting them to their religion, discarded, sinhala names and local dress. British hated Sinhala Language and culture, instead offered Christianity with imperialism and anti nationalism.   The key leaders of the current Government of Good Governance  are guardians  and remnants of the colonial creation.

Monks resistance was  non stoppable. They tooks a keen interest in political activities in the selection and appointment of right Kings When European colonials had difficulties on a Sinhala Constitution, it was buddhist monks  who provided the knowledge of laws and customs.  Portuguese or British were all the same, they did everything at their disposal to destroy Buddhism and inculcate Christianity and western values. It was once again Ven Velivita Sarananka Maha thero who took front line struggle for the rejuvenation of education of monks across the country.

BUDDHIST BOYS FOUGHT WAR  AGAINST TAMIL TERRORISTS:

It was predominantly Buddhist Boys who fought against the Tamil Terrorists, with some Christian/Catholic families too releasing their children to the 3 armed forces. Where were the Muslim and Christian Clergy in the freedom fight? They were not there in the past.  They are not there at present.  They will not be there in the future. Tamils and Muslims whose lives were saved by Buddhist Boys are now receiving top class education for their children, some of them ranking best in the island at Scholarship Exams, GCE  Ordinary Level Advanced Level and University Final Examinations.  Do they have few kind words or gratitude for the Buddhist Boys  for salvaging them from the clutches of Terrorists?

Part 3 to be continued.